Manchester United have identified the Denmark international Anders Lindegaard as a contender to take over in goal from Edwin van der Sar if, as expected, the Dutchman announces his retirement at the end of the season.

Eric Steele, United's goalkeeping coach, travelled to Norway last night to watch Lindegaard in action for Aalesunds against Stabaeck. His team lost 2-1 but the 26-year-old received praise for his performance, in keeping with a growing reputation as the best goalkeeper in Scandinavia.

This was the fifth time Steele has been to see Lindegaard and it is understood United have also made preliminary contact with Aalesunds. A number of other clubs have also expressed an interest, with Lindegaard showing the kind of consistent form for Aalesunds that he rarely demonstrated during six years largely as a reserve at his previous club Odense. He moved to Norway last year, initially on loan, but was so impressive he was offered a three-year deal.

United's need for a new goalkeeper is regarded as a priority at Old Trafford, with the 39-year-old Van der Sar widely thought to be in the final year of his professional life. Ben Foster was sold to Birmingham City in the summer and Sir Alex Ferguson has misgivings about the second-choice goalkeeper, Tomasz Kuszczak.

David de Gea, the Spain Under-21 international, has also come to the attention of United after his performances for Atlético Madrid in La Liga. Ferguson recently took Steele on a spying mission to watch De Gea play against Valencia, United's Champions League opponents.